Mercer Women Finish Third

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - The Mercer women's golf team placed three individuals inside the top-10 to capture a third place finish at the Great Smokies Intercollegiate on Tuesday. Senior Mary Alice Murphy posted the team's top individual finish, taking seventh overall with a 36-hole total of 142 (-2).

Mercer shot 291 on Tuesday, six strokes more than its opening round score on Monday. The Bears' tournament total of 576 was only two strokes behind Samford for second place and six strokes shy of tournament host and champion, Western Carolina.

'"We were in position to win today, and that is what you always strive for," Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. "We will do that a lot this year. We must learn to cherish shots and not throw them away. One or two shots is all that separates the good from the great."

Murphy followed an opening round 70 with a 72 to notch the 15th top-10 placement of her career. Her efforts saw her outpace teammates Lacey Fears and Macy McRaney - who tied for eighth place - by a single stroke. Fears collected scores of 72 and 71 in the event while McRaney following Monday's 67 with a 76.

Freshmen Katy Harris and Haley Austin tied for 22nd and 44th place, respectively. Harris signed for a 76 and a 72 while Austin carded a 76 and an 80.

Junior Sarah Louie Brown improved upon Monday's 74 by a stroke, placing 20th while competing as an individual.

Mercer's next tournament stop is at the LPGA Xavier Invitational at the LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. The three-day event is scheduled to start on October 5.